Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN91601M2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘BBTUN91601M2’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; dark red purple and white bi-colored flowers; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBTUN91601M2’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeders' Rightsapplication filed on May 17, 2019, application number 19-9877. Therehave been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘BBTUN91601M2’.

The new Petunia plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofPetunia X hybrida ‘USTUN91601’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,663.The new Petunia plant was discovered by the Inventor on a singleflowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘BBTUN91601’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Carleton, Mich. on Aug. 15, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Carleton, Mich. sinceAug. 15, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBTUN91601M2’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘BBTUN91601M2’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually        trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Dark red purple and white bi-colored flowers.    -   6. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the mutationparent, ‘USTUN91601’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newPetunia differ primarily from plants of ‘USTUN91601’ in plant and growthhabit as plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching, denser andmore uniformly mounding than plants of ‘USTUN91601’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,037. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as        trailing as plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flower earlier than plants of        ‘Kakegawa S36’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Kakegawa S36’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Petunia have dark red purple and        white bi-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’ have        solid magenta-colored flowers.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia have improved pathogen tolerance        than plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘KL 1117’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘KL 1117’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as        trailing as plants of ‘KL 1117’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flower earlier than plants of ‘KL        1117’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘KL 1117’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Petunia have dark red purple and        white bi-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘KL 1117’ have        white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

At the top of the photographic sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘BBTUN91601M2’ grown in a container andat the bottom of the photographic sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘BBTUN91601M2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15.25-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario,Canada and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petuniaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 27° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants werepinched three weeks after planting and were ten weeks from plantingrooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘BBTUN91601M2’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Petunia X hybrida    ‘USTUN91601’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,663.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely            branching habit with about six primary lateral branches each            with about eight secondary branches developing per plant,            dense and bushy plant form; pinching enhances development of            lateral branches; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height.—About 20.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 61.4 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 17.7 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong; flexible, not brittle. Aspect: Initially upright            then outwardly spreading to almost horizontal and eventually            trailing. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte.            Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to            146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after            flowers develop; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely            pubescent; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully developed            leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to            N144C. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: More green            than 147B; venation, close to 143C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent; matte. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and            axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to            outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 150 flower buds            and open flowers per plant at one time.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from early spring until            frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this            period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet, pleasant.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color, sepals: Close to 138A. Color,            petals: Close to 83B; towards the apex, close to N77B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.3 cm.        -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 8 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 8 mm.        -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a            single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):            About 2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal lobe            shape: Spatulate. Petal lobe apex: Cuspidate. Petal lobe            margin: Entire; moderately undulate. Petal lobe texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte.            Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Moderately            pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Darker            than N74A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 77B. Fully            opened, upper surface: More purple than N74A; towards the            margins, close to NN155C; venation, darker than N74A; color            does not change with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to N78C; towards the margins, close to            NN155C; venation, close to N78B and N186C; with development,            colors becoming closer to more purple than N74B and NN155C.            Flower throat (inside): Close to 76B; venation, close to            N92A and 76B. Flower tube (outside): Close to N78C;            venation, close to 146C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a            single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About            3 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Bluntly acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: When opening and fully            developed, upper surface: Close to 137A. When opening and            fully developed, lower surface: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; wiry and flexible, not brittle.            Angle: About 45° to 90° from stem axis. Texture and luster:            Densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A; distally,            close to N77C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            145D. Anther length: About 1.4 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed.            Anther color: Close to 97C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 98D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm.            Style color: Close to N155D. Stigma diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary            color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Petunia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have excellent garden performance and have been observed to tolerate    rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN91601M2’as illustrated and described.